LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne volleyball team beat Pacific (Ore.) and Wis.-Stout on the final day of Pacific Coast Classic to go 3-1 on the tournament.
All-Americans Brittany Yaxley and Kelsi Robinson were named to the All-Tournament Team as voted on by the head coaches of participating teams.
Game 1: La Verne 3, Pacific (Ore.) 0
Yaxley and Robinson combined for 21 kills to lead the Leopards' sweep of Pacific in the first game of the day.
The teams traded points to start the first set but the Leopards used a 4-0 run keyed by two Delaney Lynch kills to take a 14-10 lead and went on the take the set, 25-21.
The second set started much the same way. The Boxers took a 15-14 lead on a bad set but the Leopards closed out the set on a 11-3 run to win the set, 25-18. Kristen Sanchez had two aces in the span and Robinson and Lynch contributed two kill apiece during the run.
The third and final set was all La Verne as the Leopards led wire-to-wire. The Leopards used a 7-0 run aided by two Destinee Sales kills to grab a 16-5 lead and did not let the Boxers get within any closer than seven points.
Sales finished the match with seven kills and Lynch added six. Ashlyn Cross was excellent defensively, notching a game-high 20 digs and tallying four total blocks.
Game 2: La Verne 3, Wis.-Stout 1
The Leopards rode a thrilling third set win to defeat a tough Wis.-Stout team, 25-18, 23-25, 27-25, 25-20.
Despite poor hitting, the Leopards comfortable took the first set by completely smothering Stout's attack as the Blue Devils hit a paltry -.083.
The Leopards fell in an early hole in the second set and despite coming back to tie the set at 19-19, could not climb all the way back.
Neither team was able to grab control in the third. The Leopards grabbed a slim late advantage on Yaxley kill but Stout immediately tied it at 24-24 with a block. Yaxley and Stout's Kennedy Strain then traded points, and it looked as if the teams were digging in for a long run. But Destinee Sales put the Leopards up with a kill and Robinson put down an emphatic kill to finish the set.
With the momentum behind them, the Leopards led wire-to-wire to win the fourth set and the match.
Yaxley led all players with 18 kills and Robinson followed with 15. Sales also reached double digits with 10 kills. Tiffany Mancuso and Madison Hickey combined for 49 assists and Kristen Sanchez led the match with 23 digs.
The Leopards will take a 10-day break before commencing SCIAC action at No. 5 Cal Lutheran on Sept. 15.
